dr. rawson: no sir. senator roberts: migy gracuious. dr. rawson: it is my pleasure to be here today, i want to thank you for inviting me to testify on the challenges and opportunities associated with trade cuba. i have been studying the cuba market for about 15 years i have been there a number of times. we continue to monitor what happens in cuba and exporters in fact our work at texas a&m indicates that one u.s. job is created for every $76,000 in u.s. exports to cuba. we think that makes it worthwhile for us to engage in this issue. a little bit about background, our exports have averaged $300 million annually, since 2002, but fluctuated widely from a hundred $40 million in 2002 up to $709 million in 2008. that has been a problem for our businesses. over the last decade of our experiences with cuba, we exported a wide variety of products such as corn, sardines, animal feed, cotton, along with processed foods such as pork beef, dry beans, snack foods can't fruit, vegetables, bottled water, grapes, pears, and treated telephone poles. a broad

dr. rawson: no sir. senator roberts: my gracuious. you have your testimony. dr. wson: it is my pleasure to be here today, i want to thank you for inviting me to testify on the challenges and opportunities associated with trade with cuba. i have been studying the cuba market for about 15 years i have been there a number of times. we continue to monitor what happens in cuba and exporters, in fact our work at texas a&m indicates that one u.s. job is created for every $76,000 in u.s. exports to cuba. we think that makes it worthwhile for us to engage in this issue. a little bit about background, our exports have averaged $300 million annually, since 2002 but fluctuated widely from a one and 40. -- $140 million in 2002 up to $709 million in 2008. that has been a problem for our businesses. over the last decade of our experiences with cuba, we exported a wide variety of products such as corn, sardines -- soybeans, animal feed, cotton, along with processed foods such as pork beef, dry beans, snack foods vegetables, bottled water, grapes, pears, and treated telephone pole

dr. rawson, you have worked on projects in nicaragua, costa rica, ecuador australia, japan, iraq indonesia, philippines, and thailand, did you sing that country-western song, "i've been everywhere man." you are a tiger as well as an aggie, thank you for your testimony. you have an impressive background. we have a opportunity to expand our position of u.s. agriculture in the cuban market. i know that the senator from arkansas does as well, but when farmers and ranchers explore a business opportunity, they examine the costs. what are some of the factors that could impact our agreement with the cuban market? >> we have -- we don't have service out of our local ports to move directly. we have to go to florida, trans load, and then go into cuba market by barge. that takes a next her several days to move the cargo. it raises the cost, and endangers the products. improving our logistical system is one thing, a second thing is within the cuban market, the times i have been there and then with companies that have been trading perishable products, we have had trouble with reliable electric power bot